Novel Preparation Methods of Anisotropic Poly(vinyl alcohol) Gels for Higher Mechanical and Swelling Performance

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K01311
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biomedical engineering/Biomaterial science and engineering
• Research Institution: Yokohama National University
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Atsushi 横浜国立大学, 大学院環境情報研究院, 教授 (90162924)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: ポリビニルアルコールゲル / キャストドライ法 / 凍結解凍法 / 高強度 / 高膨潤 / 微結晶 / 異方性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The preparation conditions of poly(vinyl alcohol) gels using the freeze-thawing (FT) and the cast-drying (CD) methods were controlled precisely. It was confirmed that the breaking stress is well-correlated with the swelling ratio, and that the realization of both high water-absorbability and high mechanical strength is difficult prepared by conventional methods. Therefore, recently introduced preparation methods were studied here. Using a unidirectional freezing method, a micrometer scale fibril network structure was formed in the network of FT gels. In addition, a lamination method and hybrid techniques were examined. It was shown that higher mechanical performance was realized by the synergistic interaction between the gel layers. Higher water-absorbability and mechanical performance were realized in the anisotropic gels by controlling the size, number, and distribution of microcrystallites to form the controlled network structures in nano- and micro-scales.

Free Research Field

材料工学